CARL MASON, THE MAN WHO

CAME BACK AS A WINNER

FROM TWO YEARS AS

AS A GOLF REFEREE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

It is curious how often circumstance at the right time can dictate the paths many people tread in their lives – with certain incidents or events planting little seeds that grow to the extent the initial spark becomes a defining factor behind the rewards that can follow.
Carl Mason is one such man to whom that occurred. Had he not spent two years working for the European Seniors Tour, as a referee, leading up to his 50th birthday, he would not have regained his appetite for golf – and he would not have enjoyed the remarkable period of success he has gone on to achieve upon resuming playing competitively in 2003.
Since joining the Seniors Tour, Mason has shown life begins at 50. He has won a staggering 17 times, including last weekend’s retention of the European Senior Masters at Woburn Golf Club. He now tops the European over-50s tour's all-time career money list earnings with €1,521,836 (£1,033,321) and, with two Order of Merit victories (2003-2004) to his name, leads the way in 2007’s chase to claim a third. Not bad for just under five years’ work.
Yet it very nearly didn’t happen. “When I stopped playing in 1997, after 24 years on (European) Tour, I needed a break. Golf was a pain in the neck. I wasn’t bothered if I never played a tournament again. I really had had enough,” Mason admitted.

REFEREEING RECAPTURED APPETITE
“Then, after about three years, I got the urge to play again, thankfully, and my two years as a referee helped, definitely. I really enjoyed it – it was a great insight into what goes on and I learnt a lot from my time doing it. That’s what gave me the appetite to start playing again. When you sit there watching golf, it gives you the buzz to play again and gets you going.
“I’m glad that I had the six-year break because I needed it when I stopped playing on the main Tour, but I’m very glad I came back. It’s been great, obviously, since then. I wish I’d felt as relaxed and confident as I do now when I played on the main Tour.”
Taking time to reflect on his triumphs, Mason added: “It’s incredible. I never thought when I started I’d win 17 times. Every time you win is special, but I would say the 2003 Senior Open at Turnberry was a key moment in my career. Going up against Tom Watson in a play-off and very nearly winning a Major was great for my confidence. I went on from there.”
He certainly did. The scale of Mason’s senior achievements are put into context by the fact in 24 years on the main Tour, he won five titles worldwide – his biggest win coming with the 1994 Scottish Open at Gleneagles – and earned €1,684,040 overall.
In barely a fraction of his time as a senior, he is close to surpassing that sum. Not that the 54 year old is motivated by money, as his reaction to moving in front of fellow countryman Tommy Horton at the top of the senior career money list reveals.

MONEY NOT THE MOTIVATION
“It was going to happen at some point and it’s an achievement I am proud of, but I’m glad it’s out of the way now, as everyone has been telling me about it and asking about it. I can get on with the rest of the season now and trying to win the Order of Merit. That’s my goal.”
Rather, it is the taste of victory he enjoys most and what continues to motivate – which is why Mason was delighted to become the first player to retain the European Senior Masters.
Ultimately, his success came courtesy of two brilliant birdies on the final hole – in regulation play and in the sudden-death play-off with Italy’s Costantino Rocca.
The first was one of real character, for Mason had wobbled in his title bid on the back nine and dropped three consecutive shots to hand playing partner and rival Rocca a two-shot lead heading down the 18th hole.
However, Mason holed a monster putt from some 35 feet, left-to-right effort across the width of the final green, to finish on six under par 210, and when Rocca failed to get up and down from the front greenside bunker, a play-off ensued on the 18th hole.
Mason’s subsequent four-iron tee-shot left a 121-yard wedge that he hit from the left hand rough to just two feet to set up the tap-in birdie that secured the top prize of €49,713 (£33,750) and his place in the record books.
“I thought my chance had gone when I bogeyed 15, 16 and 17, but my first birdie on the 18th shows you must never give up. Then that wedge in the play-off was naughty. I apologised to ’Tino for that one,” he said.

RARE BAD SHOT OFF THE TOE
“But of course, I was delighted to win again at Woburn, over one of the classic, famous courses, like the Duke’s Course is. As the defending champion, there’s maybe a little more pressure, so I’m even more pleased to have won and retained my title. It was difficult out there because I wasn’t feeling very comfortable on the back nine. I hit a toey hook on 11 and it upset me, because I’ve not hit a bad shot like that for a long time.”
As Mason’s rivals will testify over the majority of the past five years, as his brilliant golf has taken him to new heights.
However, with the grace and humility Carl regularly shows in both victory and defeat, not to mention the manner in which he conducts himself on and off the golf course, Mason is well respected and liked as one of the most popular figures on the Tour. The rapturous round of applause that greeted him at Woburn on Sunday night in the Player’s Lounge when he returned from the prize-giving ceremony proved that.
“The European Seniors Tour is fantastic – and I’m very grateful for all that it’s done for my career,” said Mason. “I think all the players are. It’s strong, competitive, we get to play great golf courses, like Woburn, that are a treat every year to come back and play – and we are getting good support from people coming to watch us. That makes such a difference. It’s just wonderful – and long may it continue.”
Many fans of senior golf will be saying the same about Mason’s success – and European Seniors Tour Managing Director Andy Stubbs paid tribute to the Buxton-born man, saying: “To become the leading senior career money winner is a fantastic achievement in its own right, but to do so in such a short time scale makes it even more special.

SEVENTEEN VICTORIES AS A SENIOR
“Additionally, against the background of Sam Torrance and his two Order of Merit victories in 2005 and 2006, and so many other notable and distinguished players turning 50 in the past few years and recently, Carl’s golf has been outstanding and his 17 wins a superb testament to his ability.
“Such fantastic achievements fill us with great optimism and expectations that the European Seniors Tour will continue to grow in strength and stature, to present all of our Members with unrivalled golfing opportunities and the platform to perform and enjoy another exciting chapter in their careers.”